It’s hard to imagine how something as basic as a spelling bee competition – in which contestants are required to spell words of varying deg...
It’s hard to imagine how something as basic as a spelling bee competition – in which contestants are required to spell words of varying degrees of difficulty – can make for an entertaining documentary. But that’s where Sam Rega’s Spelling the Dream succeeds. Rega profiles a group of aspiring competitors of Indian descent preparing for this very American competition.
The film starts in 2019 at the 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee, in which as many as 562 contestants participated. It was a significant year because eight children were declared co-champions after all of them lasted 20 rounds. Seven of the eight winners were of Indian descent. Among them was Saketh Sundar from Maryland, who is seen in the film sitting on stage with his hands folded in prayer as the judge announces the final round.
Back in 1983, there were only six Indians among 137 participants. The story of the Indian fascination with the National Spelling Bee starts in 1985, when Balu Natarajan became the first winner of Indian descent. Since 2008, Indian Americans have won the contest 12 years in a row.
The 83-minute film profiles four children from around America who are aspiring to become champion spellers. Rega includes interviews with the contestants, their siblings...
